Chapter 10
They were in the middle of a grocery store run when her phone rang. Tati lifted her hand from the side of the cart her Daddy now required she hold on to after she’d rolled three aisles away on her knee scooter while he had searched for the perfect oranges. Who else knew the best ones were heavy with a slightly flat top and bottom and a shiny peel?
She saw the name of her apartment complex and accepted the call. “Hello?”
“Tatiana? This is Jill in the office. Are you in your apartment?”
“No. I’m staying with—with a friend,” she stammered. “Is something wrong?”
“There’s a guy messing around your car. I’ll call the police.”
Instantly frightened to her core, Tatiana held herself together to answer. “Wait. Let me check with Jack.”
She muted her phone and looked up at Jack. “There’s someone messing with my car. Did you arrange anything by chance?”
“No. Have them call the police.”
“Hi, Jill. We don’t know why someone would be working on my car. Can you call the police?”
“On it. Check in at the office when you get here,” Jill told her and ended the call.
Tatiana didn’t want to go there. She forced herself to look up at Jack. “He’s found me.”
“Who, sweetheart?”
“My ex. He won’t believe that I don’t love him.”
“Let’s go convince him.” Jack grabbed the handlebar on her knee walker and pushed the cart to the produce manager standing close to them. “Keep going toward the door. I’ll catch up with you, Tati.”
Immediately, she followed his instructions and rolled toward the exit.
She heard Jack say, “We have an emergency. Can I leave this with you?”
“Definitely, sir. Will you return today?”
“Yes. We’ll be back in a couple hours.”
“I’ll hold on to it for you for a while. Good luck.”
“Thank you,” Jack called back over his shoulder as he chased behind her.
“That’s him,” Tatiana said, pointing out the windshield at a handcuffed man sitting on the curb with two patrolmen standing close.
Jack parked and helped Tatiana out of the car. When she could wheel across the parking lot, he walked at her side.
“Tatiana! That’s her, officers. My girlfriend.”
“Is that right, Miss?” The officer looked at her suspiciously.
“No. I’m not his girlfriend. He’s harassed me for two years. I just moved here to get away from him when he found me the last time,” Tatiana told them bluntly.
“Come on, baby. Don’t be like that. You know you’re glad to see me,” the seated man called.
“Do not address him,” Jack said in a low voice as he moved to block Tatiana from her ex-boyfriend’s view.
“I filed reports for break-ins in Kansas City and Cincinnati against Thomas Kennedy. Those should still be on record, right? I need help. I’ve lost everything trying to keep one step ahead of him. Something is wrong with him.”
“He’s been very cooperative…” the cop began.
“Screw you, Tatiana. Won’t you even look at me? I’m going to talk to you whether or not you want me to. You can’t keep me away, bitch.”
“Well, that changed quickly,” one police officer said after exchanging looks with his partner. “You filed reports in Kansas City?”
“Yes, and in Cincinnati. They wouldn’t let me in Chicago,” Tatiana told him.
He nodded and returned to the police car.
Tatiana knew he would check out the story. She felt so cold. Her body shook with fright. Her life had finally started down a good path. She looked down at the knee walker then up at Jack.
“How am I going to run now? I can’t even drive.”
Jack wrapped his arm around her. “You’re not going anywhere, Tati. This stops now.”
Thundering steps made them both look up. Thomas had somehow gotten to his feet and pelted toward them. Jack didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward into the man’s path and felled him with one solid blow.
Thomas rocked back and dropped to his butt with a thud. His eyes skittered around wildly, as if he couldn’t focus.
Spooked, Tatiana wheeled backward and almost fell from her knee walker. Jack wrapped an arm around her to stabilize her. “Are you okay, Tati?”
“I need to get away from him. He’s never going to stop.”
“Sorry, sir. I’ve never seen someone rocket to their feet like that. I’ll get him in the patrol car,” the officer said, shaking his head.
Jack ignored the officer. “Stay here,” he told Tatiana sternly.
Taking two steps forward, he towered over the man who still swayed as he sat on his butt. “This ends today. I know four hundred and twenty-one ways to kill someone. I will be glad to demonstrate them all. She’s mine.”
“Got confirmation that Thomas Kennedy has a long series of restraining orders against him. Thanks to the stolen ID he provided to us, he’ll go to jail tonight while we investigate if he has any other charges against him,” the officer said, returning from the car.
The two officers hauled the dazed, handcuffed man up to his feet. One walked him to the patrol car as the other pulled out a card to hand to Jack.
“Four hundred and twenty-one ways, huh? Special forces?” the officer guessed.
“Ex, but still active duty,” Jack answered, taking the card.
“I didn’t give that to you, but that’s the name of an attorney here in town who works tirelessly to protect women from jerks like that one. He’s obeyed the other restraining orders. I’d get one just in case.”
“Thank you,” Tatiana said.
“No problem. Like I said, you didn’t get it from me. I think your guy solved your problem. He’s too much of a wimp to come after anyone with a boyfriend who looks like him and can ring someone’s bell without even trying,” the officer told her. “I’m making a report. I’ll make sure it’s on file. Call 911 if you have any further problems.”
“Thank you, Officer,” Jack told him as he squeezed Tatiana closer.
When they were alone once again, Jack suggested, “Let’s check over the car in a couple days. It’s fine right where it is.”
She’d never trust that car again. “Can we just sell it?”
“Of course, but let’s not make any decisions today. It’s been a traumatic day and you’re still recovering. Let’s go get some decadent ice cream and have cones on the deck.”
“That sounds heavenly. Can I stop at the office before we leave?” Tatiana asked, remembering the manager had asked to talk to her.
“Want me to go in for you?” he asked
“No, I want to give her my notice. That is, if you’re sure I can stay with you.”
“I’m sure. I’ll keep you close for as long as you’ll let me.”
“You are my boyfriend now,” she said breezily, pushing her knee walker toward his car to drive to the office.
“You caught that, too, huh? Guess we look like we belong together,” Jack said with a big grin as he lifted her into his arms and carried her the rest of the way. “You’re mine, little girl.”
Unable to resist, Tatiana lifted her hand to salute. “Yes, Sir. Daddy, Sir.”
The End